Boston Red Sox vs Chi. White Sox Picks and Predictions September 7th 2024

There is an AL matchup between the White Sox and Red Sox that gets started at 7:15 PM ET from Fenway Park in Boston, MA. The Red Sox are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -197 compared to the White Sox at +165. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

FOX is carrying this game on TV, and Cooper Criswell will be on the mound for the Red Sox, while the White Sox are starting Garrett Crochet. Chicago is 32-110, and they are 5th in the AL Central, while the Red Sox are 3rd in the AL East.

Left-hander Garrett Crochet gets the start for the White Sox today as he faces the Red Sox on the road. Crochet has made 28 starts this season and has a record of 6-10 with a 3.61 ERA. In his last outing, he took the loss, going 3 1/3 innings and giving up one earned run on three hits. Crochet has allowed a home run in each of his last two outings. Crochet’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.07, and opponents are batting .214 off him this year. The White Sox starter has 11 quality starts this year and is averaging 12.82 strikeouts per nine innings.

For the season, the White Sox are averaging just 3 runs per game, which is the worst mark in the league. Not only are they the worst home run hitting team in the league, but they are also near the bottom of the league in terms of batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. As a team, they are batting just .220.

Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi are the top home run hitters for the White Sox this season, but Vaughn is batting just .236 for the season, and Benintendi is even worse at .218. Vaughn has gone just 3/16 in his last five games, and Benintendi is just 1/15 in his last four games. Nicky Lopez has gone 5/13 in his last four games and is also on a three-game hitting streak.

Through 16 starts, Cooper Criswell has a record of 5-4 and an ERA of 4.14 for the Red Sox. He has made 22 appearances this season and has a WHIP of 1.32. Criswell has only turned in one quality start this year and is averaging 6.83 strikeouts per nine innings. Looking back at his last outing, Criswell went four innings vs. the Tigers, giving up no earned runs and coming away with a no-decision. He has not taken a loss in his last three outings. Criswell’s ERA for the season is 6.6 on the road compared to 4.07 at home.

Heading into today’s game, the Red Sox are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 10th in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league’s 4th best hitting team, with a team batting average of .255. Boston is also near the top of the league in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.

Over his last six games, Jarren Duran has gone 6/23, and for the season, he is batting .292 with 21 homers. Rafael Devers has been the team’s top power threat, with 28 homers and 81 RBIs. He is also batting .279 for the season.

The Boston Red Sox are looking to secure another win at Fenway Park as they take on the Chicago White Sox in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday evening. After snapping a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory in the series opener on Friday, the Red Sox (71-70) hope to find a more consistent offensive groove as they continue their push for a strong finish to the season.

Red Sox Offense Struggles, but Rafaela Provides a Spark

Boston’s offense has been struggling recently, scoring just 11 runs over their last six games. However, Ceddanne Rafaela provided the much-needed boost in Friday’s win, smashing a two-run homer in the seventh inning that made the difference. Still, the Red Sox need more consistent production at the plate, especially at Fenway, where they hold a disappointing 32-38 record this season.

The Red Sox are hopeful for an offensive boost with the expected return of Trevor Story, who has been sidelined since April 6 with a shoulder injury. Story’s return could be the key to sparking Boston’s lineup. “It’s important not just for us, but for him, to get back out there,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Story has looked sharp in his rehab stint, going 6-for-16 over four games with Triple-A Worcester.

With Story back at shortstop, Rafaela, who has been a versatile player for Boston, will move to second base. “Wherever they put me, I’ll give my best and help the team any way I can,” Rafaela said.

Cooper Criswell Takes the Mound for Boston

The Red Sox will start Cooper Criswell (5-4, 4.14 ERA) on the mound. Criswell hasn’t earned a win in his last three outings, but he delivered a solid performance last Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, pitching four perfect innings. Cora explained that Criswell’s early exit was part of the game plan. “We wanted him to get us as many outs as possible, then use our matchups from there,” Cora said.

Criswell faced the White Sox earlier this season, where he struggled, allowing four runs (three earned) over 4 1/3 innings in a 7-2 loss on June 7. He’ll look to turn things around this time and give Boston a strong start.

White Sox Struggling, Crochet Shines

The Chicago White Sox (32-110) are enduring a brutal season, having lost 13 of their last 14 games. After a rare 8-1 win against the Baltimore Orioles earlier this week, Chicago’s momentum quickly faded in Friday’s loss, where they managed only one run on six hits. Right fielder Dominic Fletcher emphasized the importance of staying positive. “Even in tough times, we’ve got to stay positive and enjoy being around the team,” he said.

Despite the team’s struggles, left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-10, 3.61 ERA) has been a bright spot for the White Sox. Crochet is coming off a strong outing against the New York Mets, where he tied an American League and franchise record by striking out seven consecutive batters to start the game. He finished the game allowing just one run on three hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Though Crochet has been limited in innings, his performances have impressed the White Sox. “He’s shown leadership by embracing his role and continuing to compete,” said White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore.

Crochet previously faced the Red Sox on June 7, where he dominated, allowing just one earned run over six innings while striking out 10 batters in a 7-2 win. He’ll look to replicate that performance on Saturday.

Key Matchups to Watch

Boston’s Offense vs. Garrett Crochet:
The Red Sox need their bats to come alive, and they’ll be facing a tough test in Garrett Crochet, who struck out 10 in their previous meeting. The return of Trevor Story and the spark from Rafaela could be pivotal in breaking through against Crochet.

Criswell vs. White Sox Bats:
Cooper Criswell struggled against the White Sox in their last matchup, but with Chicago’s offense in a slump, this could be a chance for Criswell to shine and secure a much-needed win.

Fenway Park Struggles:
The Red Sox haven’t performed well at home this season, with a 32-38 record at Fenway. Can they capitalize on this series against the struggling White Sox to improve their standing?

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What’s at Stake?

For the Red Sox, building on Friday’s win is crucial as they look to finish the season on a high note and improve their underwhelming home record. The return of Trevor Story could provide the spark they’ve been missing.

For the White Sox, who are long out of playoff contention, the focus is on individual performances and playing for pride. Garrett Crochet’s outings have been one of the few bright spots for the team, and they’ll look to him to deliver another strong performance as they aim to end their slump.

With both teams having something to prove, Saturday’s game promises to be a competitive contest as the Red Sox push for another win and the White Sox fight to turn things around.

Look for the Red Sox to come out on top as they host the White Sox today, and we are leaning towards taking them on the money line. As for how we would play the over/under line, we are leaning towards the under, as this is projected to be the 2nd lowest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the 10th highest strikeout projection. Boston starter Cooper Criswell has the 11th best strikeout projection among today’s starters